You always see people reccomend a revolver for hiking/backpacking and an autoloader for defensive carry (except for the die hard revolver guys) the reason most give is a revolver has less moving parts and is less likely to fail. Why wouldn't you want less moving parts for a defensive gun? Or why not a nice 45 auto for wooded carry for the critters? I have no problem trusting my life to an auto for CCW so why revolvers for the woods?
Why Revolvers for woods carry but Autos for defense carry?
- Thread starter Mags
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I would think that the power factor would come into play. If you are walking in the wood and a large furry criter with teeth came out a 44 mag would be nice. Now on the other hand you are in the mall and a thug trys to rob you a 44 mag would be way to much gun. You would kill the bad guy but you would also most likly kill some body not involved and that would make you a killer. And the same in reverse mall a 45acp would be great now in the woods an 45 acp vs a large bear not a good ideal. Well thats my thoughts.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
I think the bigger issue is that in the woods, there are some heavily muscled, very powerful critters with lots of fangs and teeth that a 9mm/.40/.45 will not reliably stop. A .357 using heavy-for-caliber solids can stop a lot of animals that a 9mm won't (at the expense of greater recoil and far less capacity), and the large-frame revolvers can serve as defense against small and medium sized bears.
For defense against two-legged predators in the woods, though, I'd personally chose a semiauto because of capacity and ease of reloading. A good semiauto well maintained is as reliable as a revolver, IMO.
For defense against two-legged predators in the woods, though, I'd personally chose a semiauto because of capacity and ease of reloading. A good semiauto well maintained is as reliable as a revolver, IMO.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
Penetration:
You want a lot against "wild game" but you don't want over penetration in a SD situation.
Capacity and speed of reload:
In the woods most animals will run when they hear a shot, or take a hit in SD situations most people want to be prepared for multiple attackers, requiring more shots, faster follow up shots, and fast reloads.
Range:
Most SD situations are pretty close range, many folk carry a side arm in the woods in case the biggest buck ever steeps out, and that might be 50 yards away and most revolver calibers have greater range than most auto calibers.
You want a lot against "wild game" but you don't want over penetration in a SD situation.
Capacity and speed of reload:
In the woods most animals will run when they hear a shot, or take a hit in SD situations most people want to be prepared for multiple attackers, requiring more shots, faster follow up shots, and fast reloads.
Range:
Most SD situations are pretty close range, many folk carry a side arm in the woods in case the biggest buck ever steeps out, and that might be 50 yards away and most revolver calibers have greater range than most auto calibers.
Ed Ames
Member
Yep. Semi-autos tend to fire mild loads compared to revolvers. There are exceptions of course. A 10mm is a little hotter than a .357mag. High power pistols tend to be larger and more expensive for the power...a Magnum Research .44mag will cost you 2+ times as much as a Ruger Redhawk from what I've seen.
Low power rounds are fine for humans but may or may not penetrate the skull of a charging wild pig. Or bear. Or whatever the carrier is afraid of.
Low power rounds are fine for humans but may or may not penetrate the skull of a charging wild pig. Or bear. Or whatever the carrier is afraid of.
Nicodemus38
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a revolver in a bear safe cartridge will cost as little as 400 out the door of your local ffl who will order what you want them to.
a semi auto that can handle a bear safe 10mm is going to cost a minimum of 1000, semi autos of all types are in high demand and inventory seems to be ultra tactical 9mm or 380.
a wildey magnum, desert eagle, or the 44 automag if you can find one for sale, are going to cost at least 2-3000 depending upon condition and if the seller read the report on how the fed wants to ban import of handguns over 52 ounces.
a semi auto that can handle a bear safe 10mm is going to cost a minimum of 1000, semi autos of all types are in high demand and inventory seems to be ultra tactical 9mm or 380.
a wildey magnum, desert eagle, or the 44 automag if you can find one for sale, are going to cost at least 2-3000 depending upon condition and if the seller read the report on how the fed wants to ban import of handguns over 52 ounces.
danez71
Member
All of those good reasons.
I'll add that the "woods" tends to be a lot more dirty, worse enviroment, and less resources than "IWB" and "IYH" (in your house) with tools at your disposal. Ultimatley, the revolver is better suited for that.
I'll add that the "woods" tends to be a lot more dirty, worse enviroment, and less resources than "IWB" and "IYH" (in your house) with tools at your disposal. Ultimatley, the revolver is better suited for that.
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Ed Ames
Member
10mm is a reasonable choice, but .44 mag beats it by maybe an 80% margin and you can buy DA .44 mag revolvers for $400 if you shop.
I'm going to argue against that by pointing at one gun. Glock.
A revolver is not immune to much and dirt by any means
And if you are hiking and carrying a gun you may depend on against dangerous animals, you'd be foolish not to carry a basic cleaning kit. All firearms are, to some degree, vulnerable to contamination. A simple cleaning kit won't take up much space or weight.
Militaries use semis in dirty and muddy conditions, so that's part of the argument is a wash.
Eightball
Member
Power factor's the deal for me. Lots of the rounds out of a good ol' wheelie work better on the 4-legged critters you're likely to encounter better than most of what can fly out of the end of a semi-auto. It's an added bonus that they work on 2-legged critters as well.
However, the 2-legged critters are smaller and more wiley in the non-wooded areas, so a nicely-hidden semi-auto or smaller-caliber revolver are both better choices.
However, the 2-legged critters are smaller and more wiley in the non-wooded areas, so a nicely-hidden semi-auto or smaller-caliber revolver are both better choices.
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the OP's question was answered very well in the first few responses.
"power factor" for lack of a better term is the big one. do i want to stumble upon a hog or bear with twenty-howevermany 9mm's or six hardball .44mag?
easy.
am i going to have time to empty my glock and do a tactical reload while the boar/bear is charging me (now even madder because i've been stinging him with 9mm luger)?
no.
if i dump three or four or five or six rounds of hardball .44mag, .480rug, .454cas into him, do i stand a real good chance?
yes i do.
do i need a .500mag to stop a mugger?
NO.
"power factor" for lack of a better term is the big one. do i want to stumble upon a hog or bear with twenty-howevermany 9mm's or six hardball .44mag?
easy.
am i going to have time to empty my glock and do a tactical reload while the boar/bear is charging me (now even madder because i've been stinging him with 9mm luger)?
no.
if i dump three or four or five or six rounds of hardball .44mag, .480rug, .454cas into him, do i stand a real good chance?
yes i do.
do i need a .500mag to stop a mugger?
NO.
cyclopsshooter
Member
dont tell me or any vet that the 1911 is not reliable in the outdoors 
John Wayne
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I disagree with the opinion that revolvers are more durable or reliable in all cases.
The only time a revolver trumps an auto for woods carry is if you need something more powerful than 10mm auto, or need to shoot shotshells in quick succession without having to rack a slide.
The only time a revolver trumps an auto for woods carry is if you need something more powerful than 10mm auto, or need to shoot shotshells in quick succession without having to rack a slide.
cyclopsshooter
Member
with nothing but a few black bears around I feel pretty comfy with 7 230 grain Hornyday +Ps
Erik M
Member
Harder hitting (I carried a .44 when I packed a revolver) than most automatic calibers, an no chance of a jam. Even though I carry a high cap 9mm now so I'm a hypocrite for saying this, I have never needed a high cap weapon in the woods.
Cosmoline
Member
But the max is a Glock 20 10mm, which is nice but nowhere near as potent as the big revolvers.
David E
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Everyone seems to have quite a few hostile bears in their neck of the woods ready to immediately pounce on the first human they see .......
One big advantage the revolver has over the semi-auto in a woods scenario is versatility. You can have a shotshell in the first one or two chambers, a light loaded full wadcutter in the next 2-3 chambers and a full load in the last 2-3 chambers. Multiple rounds for multiple uses, all in one cylinder.
Another reason could be that for many, a .22 rimfire revolver would suffice quite nicely in the woods. Shotshell ability is retained, along with rounds capable of bagging a rabbit or squirrel for the camp stew pot.
As for reliability, semi-autos generally withstand abuse better (like being carried afield) while revolvers withstand neglect better.
The choice depends quite a bit on your intended use. Do you plan on using it to harvest small game? Is it only for protection? If the latter, protection from what? Bear? Wild dogs? Two-legged snakes? Define the mission and the choice becomes easier, if not crystal clear.
One big advantage the revolver has over the semi-auto in a woods scenario is versatility. You can have a shotshell in the first one or two chambers, a light loaded full wadcutter in the next 2-3 chambers and a full load in the last 2-3 chambers. Multiple rounds for multiple uses, all in one cylinder.
Another reason could be that for many, a .22 rimfire revolver would suffice quite nicely in the woods. Shotshell ability is retained, along with rounds capable of bagging a rabbit or squirrel for the camp stew pot.
As for reliability, semi-autos generally withstand abuse better (like being carried afield) while revolvers withstand neglect better.
The choice depends quite a bit on your intended use. Do you plan on using it to harvest small game? Is it only for protection? If the latter, protection from what? Bear? Wild dogs? Two-legged snakes? Define the mission and the choice becomes easier, if not crystal clear.
Definitive answer
You got the cart before the horse here......the truth is that we "gun-wackos" fritter around these forums, hang out at the range, "chew-the-fat" with our buddies until we stumble across a firearm we just gotta have....then you start rationalizing "why"...see, for example this discussion: if you have a 1911 this could be a good reason to pick up a SW 29-2. Or the reverse. Got a wheel-gun? You know you need a 10mm auto! The good news is that you can find "facts" to support your "need" here. Just ask!
You got the cart before the horse here......the truth is that we "gun-wackos" fritter around these forums, hang out at the range, "chew-the-fat" with our buddies until we stumble across a firearm we just gotta have....then you start rationalizing "why"...see, for example this discussion: if you have a 1911 this could be a good reason to pick up a SW 29-2. Or the reverse. Got a wheel-gun? You know you need a 10mm auto! The good news is that you can find "facts" to support your "need" here. Just ask!
Waywatcher
Member
Revolvers Jam
When I went on a 4 day hike in Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, I took a Glock.
Revolvers jam, I have personally had a jam with a revolver, and I have seen others jam. A piece of unburnt powder under the star, or a piece of dirt in there will jam a revolver up.
And when they do jam, it is not a quick fix. You need to unload it and clean it out.
A reliable automatic on the other hand, tap-rack-bang.
Any mechanical device can fail, but I put my trust in an automatic for woods and defense.
When I went on a 4 day hike in Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, I took a Glock.
Revolvers jam, I have personally had a jam with a revolver, and I have seen others jam. A piece of unburnt powder under the star, or a piece of dirt in there will jam a revolver up.
And when they do jam, it is not a quick fix. You need to unload it and clean it out.
A reliable automatic on the other hand, tap-rack-bang.
Any mechanical device can fail, but I put my trust in an automatic for woods and defense.
danez71
Member
For the record....
The only revolver I have is a piece of junk RG .22 that my mom used to have for HD (LOL). I'm not pro-revolver at all.
And I do agree that pistols can be very reliable and servicable in the outdoors.
And yes, glock is a good example of that as well as BHP (I Have), 1911, and some others. They have proven to be a good combat choice over decades.
But, I didnt think we were talking combat or military.
I thought the question was 'why a revolver for a woods gun?'. Not, 'is a revolver better for military'?
In the military/combat.... they arent worried about bears etc.
All I did was ADD that their simplicity is A benefit in those conditions. I DIDNT state that it was the SOLE beneift. NOR did I say autos were not reliable.
The revolver has about 1/2 as many parts that could go wrong than an auto.
Dont read stuff INTO my post; just read the post.
Obviously the revolver guys havent chimed in much.
The only revolver I have is a piece of junk RG .22 that my mom used to have for HD (LOL). I'm not pro-revolver at all.
And I do agree that pistols can be very reliable and servicable in the outdoors.
And yes, glock is a good example of that as well as BHP (I Have), 1911, and some others. They have proven to be a good combat choice over decades.
But, I didnt think we were talking combat or military.
I thought the question was 'why a revolver for a woods gun?'. Not, 'is a revolver better for military'?
In the military/combat.... they arent worried about bears etc.
All I did was ADD that their simplicity is A benefit in those conditions. I DIDNT state that it was the SOLE beneift. NOR did I say autos were not reliable.
The revolver has about 1/2 as many parts that could go wrong than an auto.
Dont read stuff INTO my post; just read the post.
Obviously the revolver guys havent chimed in much.
I believe the reason is both power and ammo choice. I carry a Ruger SRH Alaskan as both my CCW and my 'woods' carry and I can switch ammo depending on the circumstances and know it will go bang everytime. There are no safeties to deal with or do I carry a round in the chamber or not.
With a revolver, especially a .44, I can load the lightest cowboy loads to the heaviest Bear loads with equal reliability.
With a revolver, especially a .44, I can load the lightest cowboy loads to the heaviest Bear loads with equal reliability.
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